Dear Editor,

I AM not a very great fan of comedy shows, but on Boxing Day I was watching television on NCN Channel 11 and on Channel 65: the same Richard Narine comedy show.To be honest, I am not very much interested in all these comedy shows, but Mr. Narine mentioned some immoral things on his show that made me think very deeply.

He always talks on the phone to a person he refers to as Uncle George, but on Boxing Day he went to the extreme and mentioned the President’s and Prime Minister’s private parts, and also other previous Guyanese Presidents.

I don’t know who this man Richard Narine is, but he is stepping beyond his boundary by the foolishness he articulates on national television and radio. How can this man disrespect the President and Prime Minister by talking about their private parts?

He also mentioned lots of political and sarcastic stuff on his insane show. It is my firm opinion that Richard Narine should apologise to the President and Prime Minister. Also, his shows should be banned from television and radio. I also note with a great deal of interest that many of these link shows at the Cultural Centre and many plays make mockery of the Christian religion and other religions. It is time we have a censor board to scrutinise all link shows, comedy shows and drama before they go public. Many of these shows have lots of defamatory and immoral speeches, including curse words, sexual overtures, and tons of racial and political remarks.

When our young people see these shows, more racial, political and religious problems are created in our society. It is my firm view that many of our “so-called” playwrights here should do more reading and receive more teachings if they wish to produce plays of substance. Many who sing calypsos, too, for Mash awards also sing songs of racial discrimination and songs that degrade our leaders. And we give them awards for such immoral renditions.

Democracy is good, but sometimes it can mean “do what you like, say what you like, and live how you like”. If we have on national television more shows such as Richard Narine’s show — that degrades the President, Prime Minister and past Presidents — I think we are really going down the road of immorality.

I call upon the Minister of Social Protection and the Minister of Citizenship, also the Minister of Public Security, to take a look at Mr. Narine’s show that was aired on Boxing Day, to make their evaluation. I also call on the management of these TV stations to look at every programme first before they are aired. Richard Narine owes the President and Prime Minister a public apology.
Regards,
REV. GIDEON CECIL